MARTINA HINGIS COMEBACK WATCH: PLAYING WORLD TEAM TENNIS

Step by step the Swiss Miss trots closer to a comeback. (Click here for a piece from January, when Martina started the rumors swirling.)

The AP reports that once retired in 2002/then returned in 2006/then banned from 2007 – 2009/now horse jumping and ball room dancing former tennis Champion Martina Hingis will be playing a full schedule – 14 matches – of World Team Tennis this season. She will be selected for a team as part of the marquee player draft to be held on February 11th.

“There’s a spark,” Hingis said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

But she also said she would rule out the possibility of a return to the tour “at this point,” primarily because of all the travel.

“If it was played in the backyard,” Hingis said from her home in Switzerland, “then I’d probably think about it twice.”

The five time Major singles titlist played World Team Tennis in 2005 – in preparation for her first return to tour. Kim Clijsters played in the league last season before winning the 2009 US Open title.

Hingis goes coy when asked if the Belgian comebacks are inspiring her decision:

“It’s great to see them dig deep and come back that well. I don’t know if I could handle it,” Hingis said.

She watched more of this Australian Open than she has in years.

“Of course it makes you think. Tennis was all my life, and the most natural thing is that it makes you think. It would be sad if it didn’t make me think, don’t you think?” Hingis said.